The hypocrisy of Melissa Bean

Chicago Tribune Blog ^

[wh0isjohngalt]

In an ongoing attempt to bludgeon Democrats with MoveOn.org's controversial "General Betray US" ad in the New York Times, Republicans seized on a Politico.com report today that pegged 44 congressional Democrats -- including Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Ill.) -- as having voted to condemn the MoveOn ad even though they accepted the group's campaign cash.

Bean voted for a House resolution condemning the ad, which accused the American commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, of "cooking the books for the White House" on the war. One of Bean's prospective GOP opponents, businessman Steve Greenberg, called the vote "blatant hypocrisy" in a press release today, because Bean has taken more than $80,000 from MoveOn and its members over her congressional career.

The release says Bean "tried to straddle the issue by voting in favor of the House resolution while continuing to reap the benefits of MoveOn's considerable political donations to her" and includes Greenberg saying "If she takes MoveOn money, she tells the world she is comfortable with its agenda."

Bean declined comment through a spokesman. But it's worth noting that she cashed her last MoveOn check three years ago, in her 2004 upset victory over then-incumbent Rep. Phil Crane. She didn't get any money from the group in the 2006 election cycle or so far this year.

It's also worth noting that shortly after the "Betray Us" controversy broke last month, the National Republican Congressional Committee challenged Bean to repudiate the ad: "Will Melissa Bean ... finally denounce the group’s despicable behavior?" the NRCC asked in a press release. "Don’t count on it."

Read on for the full release from Greenberg's campaign today:

[wh0isjohngalt]

I live in this district and I get more and more sick of Melissa Bean every day. She's managed to snow a good chunk of the district for the last two elections, making them think she's some sort of moderate. Moderates don't pull stuff like this. Moderates don't take $82,000 from Moveon.org and then try to cover their ass by making a symbolic vote condemning that same group. Those are the actions of a fake moderate and I just hope that one of the Republican candidates has the courage to call him on it.

[Darksheare]

Welcome to FR.

[misterrob]

Not exactly breaking news....

but not a bad post either.

[monday]

“I just hope that one of the Republican candidates has the courage to call him on it.”

Melissa Bean is a he? Wow his parents must have really hated him to name him Melissa.

[Free Vulcan]

Coming out of the gate breathing fire.

Welcome to FR.

[wh0isjohngalt]

Thank you, I’ve been lurking for a while, decided I may as well register. Plus I wanted to post that :p

[rogue yam]

Welcome to FR and thank you for posting this item. As you stick around you will soon learn that this sort of report is not of the type considered appropriate for classification as “Breaking News”. FYI.

[Brizick]

I live in Bean’s district too. How about those $1600 flat screens she had installed in her office compliments of all of us?

[wh0isjohngalt]

I live in Bean’s district too. How about those $1600 flat screens she had installed in her office compliments of all of us?

Hey why not. It’s not like it’s HER money that she’s wasting. She should thank God every day for the democrat wave in 2006, otherwise she’d be out of a job.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Welcome to FR.

[Brizick]

She should thank God every day for the democrat wave in 2006, otherwise she’d be out of a job.

We need to work to make her unemployed in 2008.

[wh0isjohngalt]

I definitely agree. A strong Republican candidate should make things very difficult for her. I’m glad that Steve Greenberg caught this particular gaffe of Bean’s and is calling her on it.